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For The Term of His Natural Life

by: Norman Dawn

Publication date: 1927
Usage: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0
Topics: Australia, Silent Film, Epic, Marcus Clarke, Convicts, Wrongly Convicted, Doubles, Scandal,
Publisher: Australasian Films
Item Size: 1.4G

This is the greatest of all Austrlian Silent films. Made just before the advent of synchronised sound, this film had a limited period of commercial viabilty before it dissapeared from sight. Based on the serialised novel by Marcus Clarke, this was the most expensive film produced in Australia at the time. It costed 50,000 pounds when the average Australian film was made for around 1000 pounds.

The film stars George Fisher as Richard Devine/Rufus Dawes/John Rex and Eva Novak as Sylvia Vickers and was adapted, produced and directed by Norman Dawn, who later went to Hollwood and made classic B-grade movies like "Bowanga Bowanga" and "Two Lost Worlds".

"For The Term of His Natural Life" was remade as a 6 episode 9 hour mini series with Colin Friels and Anthony Perkins.

IMDB Page

Credits

Cast
George Fisher...Rufus Dawe/John Rex
Eva Novak...Sylvia Vickers
Dunstan Webb...Maurice Frere
Jessica Harcourt...Sarah Purfoy
Arthur McLaglen...Gabbett
Katherine Dawn...Mrs. Vickers
Gerald Kay Souper...Major Vickers
Marion Marcus Clarke...Lady Devine
Arthur Tauchert...Warden Troke
Beryl Gow...Sylvia Vickers as child
Compton Coutts...Reverend Meekin
Mayne Lynton...Reverend North
Carlton Stuart...Commandant Burgess
William O'Hanlon...The Crow
Arthur Greenaway...Lord Bellasis
Edward Howell...Kirkpatrick
Fred Twitcham...Surgeon Pine
Charles Weatherby...Captain Blunt
Steve Murphy...Jeremy Vetch